Skimmer-scoop crane



Nov. 2o, 1928. 1,692,452

J. E. KIRKHAM SKIMMER SCOOP CRANE -Filed oct. 19,24 i asumen-sheet 1 Nov. 20, 1928.

J. E. KIRKHAM sxIMMEB scegoP CRANE '2 sheets-snee Filed' cm. 5, 1924 Patented` Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

. @1,692,452 P-e TENT @FFI-9 JOSEPH r.. Kramm, or ToPnx'A, KANSAS, assumera 'rof-nonnnnre. COMPANY', on

l MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A conrone'rrom A common type of machine used in exca- 'vating operations at the present time `1s known as 'a skimmer .excavator. This maf chine, generally speaking, embodiesa vehicular or traction support equipped -with a substantially horizontalboom along which operates what is known as a skimmer scoop. The use towhich this machine is put need not be recited because it is well known to those versed inthe excavating machine art. It is notable, however, that in the operation otthe skimmerscoop, generally speaking, the .scoop is pulled outwardly Vfrom the point adjacent to the base of the machine, operating along the boom by'which it is carried, and digging into the earth to scoop up the latterpreparatory-to raising the boom to elevate the load in the scoop and 'to dump the saine. The

1 'movement of the scoop in the manner re-' ferred to creates a back-thrust length-wise of the boom and toward the base or traction sup port of the machine. A common type of traction support of skimmer scoop machine is a traction-engine which by reason of its weight is able to withstand the back-thrust of the scoop in its operation, and above referred to, without even'the immobilizing ofthe machine as regards the traction base or support feature. In said common type ot skimmer ,3Q scoop machines the scoop is susceptible ot partial turning about a vertical axis provided for the supporting boom.

There are a number of advantages for the useof a skimmer scoop in conjunction with what may be generally characterized in the excavating art as rotary cranes, that is, a crane of the type comprising a car carried by a turn-'table on a traction base, the car adaptv ed to rotate a full revolution. A number of D attempts have been made to adapt the skiinmer scoopl construction of excavator to a mounting thereofupon cranes of the rotary type, but considerable ldiiculty has been experienced in, obtaining a practical construe- *5 tion of the above class of machine. One o-t the primary dilieulties met with heretofore is involved in the fact that the rotary crane car or body which is adapted 'for ordinary crane uses with clam-shell, drag-line and shovel 5U buckets, is a counter-balanced structure; that is to say the crane body or car is designed to receive a supporting boom at one end and wei ht means as well as a special distribution of the machinery of the .car body 'are features employed to counter-balance lthe boom and E KIMMER-SCOOP, CRANE;

vcrane to fold together, so to spe-dri Application mea october a, 1924, serial No. 741,345?t and ie Caada 11m# 91 1925- i.

the loads which are-handledby the particular kind of bucket associatediwith the boom. On account ofA the eounterfbalanc'ed V:earlier body.'constructionjof' the ordinary rotary crane, when the skimmer. scoop typeiofeXea-*to vator has been mounted thereon heretofore, the back-thrust on the scoop supporting boom has been such. astojtend to'raise'L4 the front end of the machine and tilt tlie same over. In'other Words, the Said back-thrus t''65` assists the counter-balancing parts of themachine to tip thelatter. This 'disadvantage in the adaptation ofa skimmer scoop eonstr'tiction of excavator'to a rotary crane' is"'well known today and the til'ipingf overfactiolisklo called jack-lmifing7-of the crane, 11n-opera` tion characterizing the tendency of' the "scoop supporting hoom` and the car body, 'the \Vith. tl1e foregoing inverniA d, thejpriinary"75 object "of the presentl inventioiifhas 'been' to producea construction in' the yway .of a I nduting with which a"rotatingcrax`i e-mayf-be equipped, said mounting being adapted ,toxin support a skimmerscoop boom in such la'n'ianfsl) ner. that the backthrust `producedLonfthe boom in the dragging action vot' Ythejsl'r'lxniner scoop as it is pulled out will tend"tfb ear down' on the front end of the maehinetoppose'the forces of 'the counter-balancing eae" 8.5 tures of the car body, to `prevent-tipp'in'' ,f f 'ver of the machine as hereinbefore described.. Essentially speaking, the mounting which I have designed .involves the use'ofanauxiliary boom unit mounted on the end-of there ciane car or body, opposite its counterbalf. ancing end andprovidcd with a' supporting arm with which the main Vskimmer?",scoop boom is connected, .the said armbeingde- Ilected below thel plane of the base of thefcar l or crane body, whereby the back-thrust'forces are,l directed downwards with tendencies'to equalize with the counter-balancing means, the two, ofcourse, being/at opposite sides of A the center pin of the craneturn-table; a "1100 The present invention :resides in the special main boom mounting construetionabove re-v ferredto. A

An additional important lfeature `of the present invention is vinvolved in one'adapta `-'los tion thereof where the main boom mounting is so designed -that'theauxilary boomlunit includes a boom that 'is adapted tojfor'm the boom of a power shovel and 1s,th'erefore,' susceptible of interchangeable use for either'the '11o skimmer scoop features are removed."

Another objectofthe-'invention lia's beei1 =to A ing construction utilizing an auxiliaryilziooinV beingconverted.- intoa powe-izshov'el' A'with those machines that are at pi ese' n t comv 4art. i

and arrangement of' hoistingcontrivance.

connected therefrom to the main boom *where .b a more direct lift on the main boom may-be o tained for the purpose of `handling this boom as when elevatingit tehuist the `skiinmer'bucket for dumping. v .2)

Still anotherjfeature' o f designofthe pres ent invention involves theadvantage o f the main boom mountingconstruetion by vwhich the pvot or hinge point of the skimmer boom proper may beraised or lowered. The rais-l inrr of the hinge point.enablingv themachine tothe employed-with the skimmer` scoop as an excavating mearisto trim up the shoulders of a, road, notwithstanding 4that, themachine itself Vrests on the subgradeof the road.v This feature of construetioniantl advantage ofthe present design is not possible otattainment monly used for. skimnierscoop ivorlc in this` In the,accompanyingdraivingg Figure 11 is a side elevation of a skimmer scoop crane',em bodyin'g the essentialleatures of t he 1 nve n tion, in-one adaptation', ..and susceptible of? Figure-2 is a fragmentary planvieiv,

ly in section, showing. more, particularly,the

base member of-tlie; auxiliary boomindiinting elevation shonii'igfinoreparticularly the aunor structure. z .y

' Figure 3 is a sectional *view :of the ,partsj shown in Figureg f x Figure 4 is' a side view like Figure 1, show#A ing still 'another adaptation of the ini'ention. Figui-e5 is la fragrnienfary rieiiin front iliary boom supporting unit'bi slriu-tuie.- Figure 6 is a vien' showingr in i`ullanddotv ted lines a. certain :imou'nl eff the rau'geoi' ad-y justment ofthe auxiliary boom unit 1which adjustment may be employed for .ilu-*stated Reference made lo -ilie' d rau'ingsas to Figuresl, 2 and 3. in which A designates tlie crane car or body.v li, its traction support and C the skiuinier'-boom; (liilhefliooin (l isfv 'adapted to travel the. usual/skiuinie'r scoop l.

pulled outwards-longitudinally ol' tbe liooui in' the skimmer xrorkf by means .Toll a .di-ag" cable 9.. and adapted to be raised for its dump ing action b v ineans`of a hoisting cable i) that connects with the sbeare 4 iiionnted on a vertical bracket- 5 near the' outer or free' end-of the boom C. The cable 2 winds about a drag drinn 6 and-the cable 3 about Aawhoisting drum 7;

provide a skimmer scoop "mainboom mount- 1,...

revolution movement upon the tractionbase B. 'So far-as the construction of the scoop 1,Y

its boom C and the operating features of the scoop are-concerned, my excavator is substantially thesame as common skimmer scoop' eX- cavatorsin commercial use today. The present 'invention lies primarily in the Way I mount the parts 1 and C upon the crane For supportin the boom C to prevent the .jack-knifing o' the crane by theiWard' thrust ofthe boom C, I utilize theaux'iliary boom supporting unit general designated at D, and including the auxiliary boom 8, the

off-standing supporting arm or base member- 9, and the brace or truss rods l0. The parts 8,

9 and 10 virtually provide a triangular boom 'support-ing unit. yThe base member 9 is pref' erably in the form of a casting itself in triymembers v'11 form the 1);Vots to connect .the

legs 8a 5f-the foot of the booin'S to the car or .crane body A. In other words, the lower end angular form as seen in'Figure 2, andis piv-v of the V'boom- 8 andthe inner vend of the vbase imernber 9 arecoaxially mounted on the'crane "Tlie `s -lt'iinmer boom C is pivotally connected by a; journal member 12 with the outer or free cnl'- 9?- ot the arm or base member 9 of the forces generated bythe back-thrust action of vthe scoop l on the boom C, when the scoop is\ per-forming its work` tend topi-aduce a down-- ward thrust upon the adjacent end ofthe crane body A to which the unitI D is pivoted.

counter-'lmlancing vthe action olf tlie'ireight means and machinery carried Iiy' {1min-verz purpose of Vtrimming theshoi'ilder's of roads` 1 or the like.

'is uffa constrin-lou suitable for use as the ordinary-dippei shovel supporting boom ofa power -shovel.l 'On this.accountfthe'unit D is oi special advantage under practical conditions. because the skimmer scoop construciio'n of crane ntilizing'it is susceptible of being. quickly,Y converted into a power' shovel cra-ne by merely' removing' the members 9 and ment. 'lf'lieieaffter the clipper stick and 'dip- The down thrust transniitied'to the 'end of the cram" liodyfrkin the manuelabovestated by the lfi'acletlirustof tbe boom (l-li'astheetfect. of

lilo

per features,-withs'ome specific parts that are sub-gradeonwhich the machine may be rest-v i l ,alwaysused to operate t e same, 4ma be a plied to the boom 8 y p shovel operation.V Figures 4 and 5 scoop crane, wherein"the principles of structure are substantially the same as those hereinbefore presentedirespecting Figures 1"'to 3 `inclusive. In the modilic'ation of Figures 4 to V6, however, I employ an' auxiliary boom supporting unit D composed of a fabricated structure `including spaced channels 8' con- Rigid brace straps 1Q struction of unit Df found veryeicient underpractical condi- From the Abody verging toward their upper ends and con- .nected by diagonal and other" braces 8,-. lower endsof the channels projects the 'arm or base .member 9 which is composed ot'v a `couple spaced nectedrigidly with .the boom ehanneis 8' by the platesll. ,-'Ihe'arm-jor base member 9 has a -central lug `15 which is pivotally connectedat 12f with the 'skimmer boom on. this fabricated contiorispractically'as do'v the4 truss rods v410 in the {irst described a'daptationvo this'invention.

TheA constructionLIV ,thus described has'bee tions of service and has 'performed 'entirely without any jack-kniiingresults under workinor conditions.

t is notable in re tions of the invention presented herein, that the skimmer 'boom C is raised and lowered by the cable 3 which passesl over asheave or sheaves 16 at the peak ofthefboo'm member 8 or 8' as `the-case' maybe. 'l\'loreover, the mounting of the 'unit D or D', whichever construction is-used,is such that it projects.

'a considerable distance laterally from' the car A and to -a certainextent 'over' the skimmer boom C. vThis .is ofqconsiderable advantage in that byv scribed. the hoisting cable means is enabled to have a'mo're direct lift on the/boom, thus permitting it to -b'e' operated when being raised with greaterease than when: the lift- `tion'eleivrated materially,

" manner'shown in Figure 6'. a

ditions the shoulders at opposite' sides of a A road on thesub-gradeof which *the-machine.'

ing forces are applied from a point lower4 and in avertical plane closer to theA inner ex-E tremity ot the lskimmer boom.

By raising the base member -9 or Y9 of the unit member D or the'unit `member D,re specy tively, the hinge point 12 or 12., respectively, s be correspondingly ele' of the boom Q mayrated whereby to adjust the boom C ina posisomewhat 'after the may be working may be readily trimmed olf. Lowering of the hinge point-12 or 12 as said shoulders are trimmed o will enable the boom C to be'correspondingly,lowered so as y to dig'the shoulders down -to the level of the for the purpose of power 'che nnels con-IA C. mer t perform the same uncgard to both of the adapta;

the arrangement de- Underthese'com,

Having thus described my'invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

tion, body thereon,

bucket to operate on said boom and means connecting the skimmer boom to the car body.

1..In a skimmer scoop crane, in combinaa .traction supportand a rotativecarv a skimmer boom and skimmer including an auxiliary boom supporting-unit pivoted to said body-and having an oil-standlng arm, and means pivotally connecting the said arm' at its outer end with the skimmer boom, the skimmer' boom being free' at all timesto swing on said pivotal connection tow .rd and. independently supporting unit.' l y 2 In auskimmer scoop tion, a traction support and a car b ody thereon, a skimmer boom and an out-digging skimbucket to operate on said boom, and

means for connecting the skimmer boom to of the auxiliary crane, in combinatlie car body tincludingl an auxiliary boom supporting unit pivoted to said bodyand comprisingan'olistanding arm inclined downy wardly below the base of said car body, means connecting the said arm at its lower endwith the skimmer boom, auxiliary boom supporting unit to raise and lower the connecting means between the skimmer hoorn andthe saidarm, andmeans for preventing' unintentional 11p-thrust of said connecting means. A 3. In a skimmer scoop crane, in combination, a traction base, carv bbdy mounted thereon and having counterbalancing means at one end, an 'auxiliary boom supporting unit means for adjusting the.

mounted on said carbody at itsopposite end and including amember inclining downwards to a point helowrtheplane of the base of said 'car body, an outdigging skimmer scoop attachinent comprising a skimmer boom connected with the lower end ofsaid member, and means movably connecting the auxiliary boo'm supporting unit to the car body operable to raise and lower said downwardly extending member, and to maintain it against Vunintentimal movementQ-in relation to the '4, In 'a 'skimmer scoop crane,

tion, a traction'ba'saa rotaryc'ar body mounting unit oi substantially nectedbyzthe one end of said'car bod, thev basemember ot said unit inclining ownvvatfds to a pointbelow the plane ofthe base "ci the car' body, and a skimmer scoop attachtriangular form conin combinaed thereon andhaving counter-balancing means at one end, an auxiliary boom supportof said unit at Vsul'istantially thelowestpor- In a skimmer scoop crane, incombinaiiieaiis :it one end, an auxiliary booni supportiii; r unit of substantially triangular form connectcd willi the other end of said car body,v

' ilu` base member of said unit incliningdownwa rds lo a point below t-lieV base of the car body. a sli'iii'iiner scoop attachment comprisat. substantially the lowest portion ofthe latter, and means to rock the triangular supporting' unit for elevating and lowering the point of connection ot' the skimmer boom with the base thereof.

l. ln a skiii'in'iei" scoop crane, in combination, a tract ion base, a rotary cai' body mount- .eil thereon and bai-ing counter-balancing n n-ans at one end, an auxiliary boom supporting unit ot substantially triangular rig-id forni connected to one end of said car body,

the basil inembcr of said unitinclining downwards to a point below the plane of the'base of the car body, a .skimmer scoop attachment com irisirur a boom iii-'oted to the base of i'ne'r boom.

7. In a skimmer scoop crane, in combinasaid unit at .substantially the lowest .portion otV tlielatter, and hoisting means intermediate the upper end of said unit tion, a traction base, a vrotary crane body -there'on countei'balanced at one end,v a boom supporting unit mounted on the other end of said crane body and including a lateral base arm' projecting below the plane of the base of the cranel body, a skimmer boom connected with the lower portion of the said base arm, an outdigoing skimmer bucket' to travel on said boom, means to elevate the skimmer boom, and means for adjusting tli e said base of the boom supporting unit.

8. In a skimmer scoop crane, in combination, a traction base, a rotary type crane body thereon counterbalanced at one end, a boom sup orting unit mounted o n the other endof sai crane body and including a booin inclinupwardly and a lateral base arm projecting belopv the planeet the base of the crane body andrigidly connected with the boom to transmit resistance forces received from a skimmer bucket downwards Yonto the crane body, askinimer 4boom connected with the lower portion of the said base arm, a skimmer bucket to travel on said boom, means to elevate the skimmer boom, means for adjusting the said base of the boom supporting unit comprising a pivotal connection between tlie unit and the crane body. f

ing a booiii pivotcd to the-base of said unit and tbcskin'iboom, saidbdoin supporting 'unit including a boom upon which the "said arm is rigid but, detachable and'said last-named boom being of the .type adapted to receive power shovel operating instrumentalities on re- .moval f t'iie skimmer scoopv features and said l0. A; skimmerscool'crane comprising a. traction base, a crane body adapted to revolve upon said base and having. boom and loadV 4 counter-balancing Ameans' at one end;l a. skimmer scoop attachment for said crane disposed at the other vend of lthe-,crane body and compris-ing a skimmer' scoop boom and a skimmer scoop adapted to operate thereon, and an adjustable mounting between said skimmer boom and the end ot the crane body on which it is carried arranged to transmit the backthrust of the boom incident to the movement ot the scoop, to the crane body, to act, uponthe latter in a direction opposite to the normal action of the counter-balancing means, whereby jack-limiting 'of the skimmer boom and crane body are preyeiited,lnieans for adjust- Y ing 'said iii'ounting to raise the point of conncction between the-same and the skimmer boom oiglower said point of connection, said pointof ,connection being-located beneath the plane of the bottom of the cranebo'dy, and

.hoisting means for the skimmer boom.

11. A skimmer -scoop crane, comprising a traction support, a crane body adapted to revolve uponl said support, a skimmer scoop boom mounted at anA end-of said crane body, a skimmer scoop operating on saidboom, and connecting means between the crane body and the skimmer scoopfbooimlocated to deliver back-thrust from the boomto 'the crane body substantially inthe planes of the base of tlie body, the skimmer scoop boom having its outer end free to move upward independently of'its connection witlithe body.

12. A skimmer-scoop crane, coinprisinga traction support, a crane .body rotative thereon, a skimmer scoop boom extending from one end 'of the crane body, a skimmer scoop operating onsaid boom, means .for raising andv lowering the boom adapted to be operated from the crane-body, and a supporting unit' establishing a pivotal connection between the.

skimmer boom and the crane body and com- -prising an upwardly extending auxiliary oom piroted tothe crane body and having an outwardly extending base arm to which the skimmer boom is directly pivoted, and 'means connecting the said base arm with the said auxiliarybooiii that en dwise forces acting upon the skiminerboom in the direction of the cr'ane'bodyftend to pull downwards on the auxiliary boom' and transmit a corresponding downward thrust upon the end portion of the crane body at which the skimmer boom is disposed, whereby to preventv the endwise iso .forces acting on the skimmer boom from tilting the crane body over toward the end thereof opposite that at which the skimmer. boom is arranged.

13. A skimmer scoop crane substantially as claimed in claim 12 combined with means for,

changing the elevation of. the said auxiliary boom audits basearmtol correspondingly change the elevation. of the pivotalconneetion.

between the skimmer boom and said base arm,

whereby the path of movement of the skimmer scoop may be` adjusted in a -veitical direction.

. 14. In apparatus ofthe class described,

the combination, with ,a' ivotally mounted counter-balanced crane "bot y, of a triangular l' 15. In apparatus-of the class described, the combination, with a pivotallymounted counter-balancedcrane body, of a triangular, auxiliary boom unit describing substantially an isosceles triangle with the base linerelatively short and lowermost, means pivotally connecting said auxiliary. boom unit substantially at one end of said baseline to the crane body at substantially the base thereof, and a scoop boom pivotedxto and outstanding from said auxiliary boom unit atsubstantially the opposite end oi said baseline.

16. Apparatus substantially vas claimed in claim 15 in which said base lineis inclined downward from its engagement with the crane body.

17. Apparatus substantially as claimed in claim 15 combined with a flexible elevating connection between the free outer end portion of the scoop boom and the outstanding apex of the auxiliary boom unit. y 1

18. In apparatus of tlieclass described, the4 combination, with a pivotally mounted counter-balanced crane body, of a rigid triangular auxiliary boom unit describing substantially an isosceles triangle with' the base line lowermost, means pivotally connect-ing said auxiliary boom unit to the crane body, and a scoop boom pivoted to said auxiliary boom unit and outstanding therefrom.. 'A

19. In apparatus'of the class described, the combination, with a pivotally mounted counter-balanced crane body, of an auxiliary boom pivoted to said body at a point to oppose the stresses of the counter-balance' and having a relatively rigid extension projecting below the plane of the pivot of the crane body, a scoop boom pivoted to said extension below said plane and outstanding from said extension, and a'supporting and 'elevating cable for the outer portion of the scoop boom exouter end portion of and boom spaced tending about .and sustained by the upper extremity of the auxiliary booni, the said scoop boom being free Ito swing upon its pivot toward said auxiliary lboom, whereby back thrust on the scoop boom may be delivered tlie'counter-lialance stresses.

20. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a counter-balanced crane body, of a scoop boom outstanding therefrom,

'lof

' tothe crane body only as stresses opposing..

a'scoop carried by said booin, means engaging the boom for actuatingr the scoop, and a plurality of articulated connections comprising a. plurality of 4rigid members angularlyrelated to each other between the boom and the crane body.

21. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a counter-balanced crane body,',of a scoop boom outstanding therefrom, an auxiliary boom carried by said crane body, and a flexible supporting connection between the outer portion of theiscoop boom and the auxiliary, the scoop boom being pivotally connected to the auxiliary boom as the means ot' its connection to the crane body. 22. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with a counter-balanced crane body, of anv auxiliary boom pivoted to the body in the plane of the lower portion thereof, a, scoop boom'pivoted to tlie auxiliary boom :is a means of its connection to the crane body and outstanding from the crane body, and a flexible supporting connection between the outer portion of the scoop boom yand the auxiliary boom.

' 23. In apparatus of the class described, the combination. with a counterbalanced crane body, of a boom outstandingr substantially horizontal from the crane body, a plurality of pivotal connections between the crane body and boom spaced in the general direction of the length of the boom, a digging instrument reciprocally mounted on the boom, an actuating cable for the digging instrument .laced past the outer end portion of the boom, and a guide for said cable substantially at the the boom whose axis of rotation is spaced above the longitudinal axis of the boom.

, 24. In apparatus of the class described`,.the combination, with'a counterbalanced crane body, of a boom outstanding substantially horizontal from the crane body, a plurality of iis pivotal connections between the crane'body in the general direction of the length of the boom, a digging instrument i'eciprocally mounted on the boom, an actuiee ating cable for the digging instrument laced past the outer'end portion of the boom, a*

guide for said cable substantially at the outei endv portion of the boom spaced ,above the 10 Toutstanding and spaced therefrom, vsin exoutstanding and spaced'-herefrom, :1n excuvating devicecooperating with 4snid boom, a supporting member between the body and boom and pivoted to the body and 4to the boom, and means for resisting thrusts in porting member on its pivotal connection to ',the crane body. V2?". 1n combination, nciane hody,;n boom outstanding and 'spaced therefrom, an excavating device cooperating with said boom,

either direction ,tending to shift the location ya.- supporting niem'ber between the'body and of the pivotal connection of the supporting member tothe boom. f/'L f 26. In combination, a crane bodyg-n'boom cavating device eooperat-ing'with said boom. a supporting member. between the body' and boom. and .pivoted to .the body and to the boom,mca ns for v're'eistinq thrusts in either direction tending to Shift the location of the A-pivotal'connection of the supporting member "tfo the hoom, n n-ans for swinging the support# ing nienibenon itepivotnl connection to the boom and pivoted vco the hodynnd io thej c1nne hody und independent in'enns for boom. means for rcisting thrustsein either. swinggxngliV the boom-on its connection to the direction tending`r to shift the locution of-the pivotal connection of the sl1pp ntin' g' member to the boom, and means f orsw11`1g1n` r the snp#l supporting mcinher.

In tcejtimony Whereotl nflix my signal nrc.

. i "JOSEIH E. KinKHAM. 

